Research Experiences for Undergraduatesin Collaborative International Automotive Engineering

Overview:

The engineering economy is becoming increasingly global. To succeed in this new economy, engineers must not only be technically competent and effective at working within multidisciplinary teams, but they must also have the cultural, social, and language skills necessary to effectively interact with colleagues and customers overseas.

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Virginia
Tech (USA) and the Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany) have
established a dual international NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site to encourage US undergraduate students
to pursue graduate studies and a research career within an international context and, in particular, within the area of
automotive engineering.
The ninth cohort of 9 students will enroll in this REU program for Summer 2019.

Two REU students will be located at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia; and seven REU students will be located at
Technische Universität Darmstadt in Darmstadt, Germany. These students will join local graduate research teams
in the area of automotive engineering. The objective is to place the REU students, to the extent possible, in joint
Virginia Tech - Technische Universität Darmstadt research projects so they can participate in transatlantic
research teams with REU students in both locations.

Language Skills: The research will take place using English. German language skill, while desirable, will not be required.

UPDATE:
The Summer 2019 application materials are available.

Research Locations (Summer 2019)

• Technische Universität Darmstadt (Darmstadt, Germany):

7 REU positions

• Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Virginia, USA):

2 REU positions

Dates

• Friday, February 1, 2019:

Application deadline (postmarked)

• Thursday, May 30, 2019:

Depart USA for Germany

• Monday, June 3, 2019:

First day of research in Germany and USA

• Friday, August 9, 2019:

Last day of research in Germany and USA

• Saturday, August 10, 2019:

Return home

"Postmarked" is the date that you submitted your letter at your local post office (not the date it eventually arrives in Virginia).

Renumeration

The REU students will receive a stipend of at least US$5,000 plus free room, board, and travel.
The exact amount of the stipend will be determined in April 2019 once the cost of air travel and the currency exchange
rates are less uncertain.